IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


m 


iiiiiM  m 


illM 
IIM 

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M 

1.8 


1.25 

1.4 

1.6 

^ 6"   — 

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


V^ 


fr'    c^. 


6^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  institute  for  Historical  l\/licroreproduction8 


Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductions  tiistoriques 


1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notat  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  th«  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibllographicaily  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignificantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


Q 


Colourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


r~n    Covars  damagad/ 


D 


Couvartura  andommagAa 


Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pellicui6e 


r~|    Cover  title  missing/ 


D 

D 


D 


D 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


|~~|   Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gAographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  inic  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I     I   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avac  d'autraa  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intArieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  tha  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanch(?s  ajoutAas 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  la  texte, 
mais.  lorsque  cela  4tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  4tA  filmAas. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentairas  supplAmantairas: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exemplaira 
qu'il  iul  a  AtA  poaaibia  da  ae  procurer.  Lea  details 
da  cat  exemplaira  qui  sont  paut-Atre  uniquaa  du 
point  de  vue  bibllographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normaia  de  fiimage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


r~|   Coloured  pages/ 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 


n 


This  item  is  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  da  riduction  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagAes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restauries  et/ou  peiiiculAes 


I — I   Pages  damaged/ 

I      I   Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcoior^es,  tachat^es  ou  plquies 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualiti  intgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  matiriai  supplAmentaire 


I — I    Only  edition  available/ 


Seuie  Edition  disponlble 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalament  ou  partieliement 
obscurcies  par  un  fauillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  At*  filmtes  A  nouveau  de  fapon  * 
obtenir  la  maiileure  image  possible. 


1 

9 
1 
V 

d 
e 
b 
ri 
ri 
n 


26X 


30X 


/ 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


tails 
>  du 
odifier 
una 
maga 


Tha  copy  filmad  hara  has  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  endinq  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaira  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gtnArosit*  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Lea  images  suivantas  ont  AtA  raproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettetA  de  I'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 

Les  exemplairas  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  les  autras  exempi  aires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commengant  pair  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  a^oparaitra  sur  la 
darniAre  image  de  cheque  mir.rofiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — »•  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
da  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


rrata 
:o 


palure, 
r\A 


□ 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

. "     .^1 


ADDRESS 


V 


PEUVERKD  nr 


REV.     G,     H.     ATKINSON,     D.    D., 


BEFOHK  TIIK 


®hamkv  of  €mmtm  of  the  estate  of  §m-||ovk 


UrON  THE 


POSSESSIOX,  SETTLE.AIENT,   CLIMATE  AND  RE- 
SOURCES OF  OREGOX  AND  THE  NORTH- 
WEST COAST,  INCLUDING  SOME 
REMARKS  UPON  ALASKA. 


DECEMBER    3d,    1868. 


JOHN    W .    A  M  E  R  M  A  N,    PRINTER, 
No.  47  Ckdak  Stheet. 


1808. 


4. 


A  31- 


r 


ADDRESS 


DELIVERED  nY 


REV.     G.     H.     ATKINSON,     D.    D., 


BEFORE   THE 


€hmkx  of  «ommw«  of  the  $UxU  of  llfiv-^foilt, 


urox  THE 


POSSESSION,  SETTLEMENT,   CLLAIATE  AND  RE- 
SOURCES  OF  OREGON  AND  THE  NORTH- 
WEST COAST,  INCLUDING  SOME 
REMx\RK^  UPON  ALASKA. 


DECEMBER   3d,    f868. 


Dfefo-gorh  : 

JOHN    W.    AMERMAN,    PRINTER, 
No.  47  Cedar  Street. 

1868. 


v^ — r^ 


ADDRESS 


DEMVEUKD  BY 


I^ev.     r)r.     -A.  T  K:  IKTSO  isr. 


BEFOKE  THE 


December  3d,    1868, 

UPON  THE  EESOUEOES  OF  THE  NOETHWEST  COAST. 


KEMARKS  UY  ^IR.  WILMAir  E.  DODGE,  PKESIDEXT  OF   THE   CHAMBER. 

The  Prosidoiit  said:    Members  of  tlic  Clitmiber  arc   luvare  of 
the   presence   in  our   city   of  Dr.    Atkixsox,    long  a   resident  of 
Oregon,  and  knowing  that  lie  had  been  requested  to  deliver  an  ad- 
dress in  regard  to  its  early  history  and  the  jtresent  prospects  of 
the  Northwest  Coast,  together  with  some  remarks  with  respect  to 
Alaska,  before  the  IJoards  of  Trade  in  Boston  and  other  cities,  he 
has  been  requested  to  address  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  to-day 
upon  these  sul)jects.     A  knowledge  of  any  thing  connected  witli 
the  history  and  resources  of  our  Northwest  Coast  and  in  relation  to 
Alaska  Avill  be  interesting  to  the  merchants  of  New-York,     Dr. 
Atkixsox  has  kindly  assented,  and  is  present,  and  with  your  per- 
mission Avill  now  i)roceed  to  address  the  Chamber. 

ADDRESS   BY   DR.    ATKIXSOX. 

Mr.  Presidext  and  Gextlemex  of  the  CuA:\rBER  of  Commerce  : 

I  have  to  acknowledg-i  the  courtesy  of  your  invitation  to  address 
you  at  this  business  hour  upon  the  possession,  settlement  and  re- 


87480 


sources  of  our  Xorthwcst  Const,  including-  some  remarks  upon 
Alaska.  There  is  a  reason  wliy  remarks  ujion  tlic  possession  should 
precede  those  upon  tlie  resources  of  the  country. 

We  liad  a  right  to  Oregon,  whicli  was  our  only  possession  on  tlie 
Pacific  Coast  for  many  years,  first  by  discovery  of  the  Columbia 
lliver.  According  to  tlie  laws  of  nations,  as  commonly  understood, 
discovery  gives  the  right  of  possession;  and  the  discovery  of  a 
river  gives  the  right  of  possession  to  all  the  territory  drained  by 
the  river ;  which  I  believe  was  the  main  point  m.ade  by  Mr.  AVku- 
vSTKu  in  the  final  treaty  concerning  the  Northwest  bouiubiry.  J)Ut 
had  that  failed,  we  had  the  right  of  possession  by  purchase  of  all 
the  territory  west  of  the  ]Mississippi,  clainu'd  as  Louisiana,  by  France, 
and  i)urchased  by  ]Mr.  JEKKKiiso.v,  in  1804.  Had  that  faili'd,  we 
had  the  right  of  i)Ossession  by  purchase  from  Spain,  in  181!),  of  all 
their  i)ossessions,  gained  by  discovery  or  in  any  other  Avay,  north 
of  42"  north  latitude.  So  that  we  had  a  three-fold  right,  as  stated, 
if  I  remember  correctly,  by  Mr.  AVicustku,  in  the  settlement  of  the 
boundary,  any  one  of  which  Avas  strong  enough,  for  the  region  iu)rtli 
of  42''  and  south  of  49".  The  claim,  indeed,  was  extended  to  54*' 
40',  but  it  Avas  not  maintained. 

But  i)ossessiou  by  right  is  very  difl^c'rent  from  possession  in  fact. 
Gentlemen  here  pi*esent  and  other  intelligent  merchants  and  gentle- 
men of  our  country,  are  aware  that  that  region  of  country  Avas  for 
a  long  time  a  terra  incor/nita  to  most  of  the  business  world,  and 
that  the  fur  trading  companies  Avere  among  the  first  to  establish 
liermanent  possession  upon  that  coast.  The  Northwest  Company, 
having  its  head  in  Montreal;  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  having 
its  head  in  London,  Avere  tAvo  of  the  older  companies  that  extended 
their  forts  and  trading  ])osts  across  the  continent  to  the  Cohunbia 
liiver.  There  Avere  other  companies :  the  Southwest  Company,  Avith 
Avhich  Mr.  Astou  had  A'cry  much  to  do,  and  the  Pacific  Company. 
Mr.  Astou  established  his  post  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  ear- 
liest, and  at  some  other  posts  along  the  river,  and  he  had  a  great 
deal  of  trading  there,  in  the  interest  of  the  nation  as  well  as  for  his 
own  interest,  thus  co-operating  Avitli  the  United  States  in  posses- 
sing that  region,  which  Ave  had  obtained  by  the  right  of  discovery. 

The  Hudson's  Bay  Company  at  length  crowded  out  not  only  the 
XortliAvest  Company's  posts,  but  Mr.  Astok's  also,  and  changed  the 
name  of  Astoria  to  Fort  George,  thus  gaining  a  practical  possession, 
having  their  forts  all  along  the  river.  They  laid  a  claim,  on  behalf 
of  England,  of  course,  to  Oregon,  Avhich  Avas  maintained  until  the 
final  claim  A^as  settled. 


The  next  power  tliat  comes  in  is  tlie  Indian  missionary  power. 
INfany  years  aj^o,  about  IS.T.T  or  1H31,  some  Indians  crossed  llie  con- 
tinent asking  i'-n'  the  Avliite  niairs  (iod.  Some  missionaries  of  the 
IMethodist  Episcopal  Church  and  of  the  American  Uoard  went  out 
across  the  continent  to  teacli  them,  l>eyond  the  Ilocky  ^Fountains, 
a!i(l  heyond  tlie  Cascade  ^Mountains.  J)r.  Wiiitmav  was  one  of  these 
men.  lie  Avent  from  vour  own  State.  IFe  was  an  iiitelli<j:ent  and 
patriotic  citizen,  as  well  as  a  faithful  missionary.  His  services  were 
needed  as  a  ])hysician,  in  various  places,  as  well  as  a  missionary. 
lie  saw  the  resources  of  the  country.  The  existence  of  ijold  there 
was  known  to  him  and  to  the  mrrois  of  the  Hudson's  J  Jay  Com- 
pany liefore  1S40;  not  as  to  the  amount,  hut  the  fact  that  it  Mas  a 
C^old-hearinjjf  country  ;  for  that  c<)mi)any  of  traders  had  very  intel- 
liijent  men  at  their  head,  a!»d  they  employed  intelliccent  nu'U  to  go 
with  them,  and  under  their  protection,  botanists,  mineralogists,  &c. ; 
and  thus  they  had  learned  before  1840  that  Oregon  was  a  gold- 
bearing  country,  es]>ecially  that  part  of  the  country  lately  taken  off 
to  form  Idaho. 

Dr.  Wiin'.UAV,  knowing  these  facts,  saw  th.at  there  was  not  only 
a  strong  motive  but  a  plan  to  secure  actual  i)ossession  by  settlers. 
Statements  were  made  and  repeated  that  Americans  never  could 
cross  the  IJocky  ^Mountains  in  wagons  and  go  down  to  the  Columbia 
IJiver;  while  etforts  were  made  to  settle  the  country  from  the  Ked 
Tviver.  Perhaps  some  of  you  will  remember  tliat  one  or  two  of  the 
British  Reviews  declared  that  Americans  never  could  reach  the 
Columbia  in  wagons  ;  that  they  must  reach  tlie  country  by  way  of 
Cape  Horn,  if  at  all ;  but  the  English  could  settle  it  from  the  I'ed 
Rivi-r.  That  was  the  i»lan  in  1841,  about  the  time  that  Sir  GKor.<;E 
Simpson',  as  Governor  of  the  Honorable  Hudson's  Hay  Company, 
passed  through  the  territory  into  the  Columbia  vallev.  Tlu-  first 
large  emigration  froni  the  Red  River  to  settle  upon  that  coast 
occurred  in  1841. 

Dr.  ^y^ITMA^',  in  1842,  ])re«5ented  that  matter  to  his  brethren  in 
the  mission,  and  said  :  "We  must  have  an  American  emigration  or 
lose  Oregon.  It  will  be  impossible  otherwise  to  save  it.  I'lans  ai-e 
already  in  operation  to  secure  this  territory  in  the  interest  of  a  for- 
eign power,  althotigh  it  belongs  to  us  Americans."  He  Avas  willing 
to  go  himself  and  bring  the  emigration.  The  nu>mbers  of  the  mis- 
sion said:  "Xo,  we  must  attend  to  our  special  Avork,  and  let  the 
government  take  care  of  its  OAvn  matters ;  we  cannot  attend  to  its 
atlairs." 


6 

r^vlv  in  tho  autumn  of  1P4.,  .n  ^,     ,,«,,  on  son»c  ^i  >»^« 

/•        .t  ihc  fort.  atU>nan..4tl>('n,  I    "H      ^^  ^v-.-a.le  is 

^j,,a\n.n-  '-^V      i   ore  came  a  l.or.U,  say...;.r,  "^     J,,a  an- 

"     '\Mcvt  was  tno  n«)iiii  pWi-r  ;ui'l  ''■'* '^" 

:*-•-' ^t:;::.:: --!:--; 
:!i:rr:;;;r::i::4r-;^;;::>:::^:::-^ 

"""        Vuvvor  he  reached  Mis.our.  n.  tl.e  las.  cla> 

"''l^t'o^  ^t^^^^'^^'  ''''\  ho  M  Wen  inMUU-luj.  al.out  the  Pa- 

^■'ll^  i;.und  gentlemen  there  -1-  ^  ^ J^^         ',.^  .,     .  y,s,  hut  we 

cific  coast,     ll^'^a*^*'     ,   .,:,t , oast  Avith  our  ^va:J;oH..        /  •^"        -^ 

1     ^nM-vveh.     Beready,  an.liNM  .^^     ^e  civme  on  to 

lio  ready  iu  .>»''i^  "•  -i      , ,,,.  iainuK'>.       ^i^  , 

\r.,sl>u»ot()u  :ind  sa\\  ^Hi-  ^\  '     .     ^Vi.,,stku says:      I  na\c 

U^u  his  ohjects  and  h.  — j     ^^.^^  ^^.^.^,^._     ,,,,,,, 
'vrned  that  Avagons  cannot  leach  t  c  ^^^^  ^  .^^  .onvsj.ondentH 

^r"  -ou.^^  S...SO.  Is  heve,  -'  f  ^^  ^  ^,,  ,,.,,,  tnulln,  Oregon 
n  ,  fl.nt  fact  An<^  ^'"^  ''''^y  '  '  1  1  -  Air  ^VmTMAX  says : 
,^echu-e  ;  ^^  'If  •^.^^^^..u.s  of  Kewfoundland.  ^^-J^  Co\nM^. 
for  the  Kugli'^'^  "^'" '  Ouv  wa<^ons  can  reaeU  me  ^ 

'I  hope  you  win  not  do  vt.     Out  >^ a  ^.^^^  Newfoundland 

1  T  rec  ard  it  as  worth  a  great  deal       n  ^^^^  c<.lumhui. 

?^l:i;^.us.KuMtsuretV.t^^-^^r;^^    ^^^^,  ^^,,  ,,,  ,. 

^p.Wurr..x  then  y-t ^^',,,,,  ,,,  ,,,,e  things;     na 
.tnrv     Tresldent  i\^^-^^  ^•^''^  ,     ,^,  come  on  this 

miouT-^U  WHcvc  you  i  una  .t  you  w.U 


C'd 


I  on  tliis 
lovci*  to 


tlic  CoIuinl)i;i  IJiviT,  I  Ik'  It.uiruin  shall  nol  lir  mailo."  (Tlitso  facts  I 
liiiV(!  iVum  a  siirviv  iiit;  missioiiarv.  \h\  Whitman  hiiiiKi'lf,  ami  all 
Ills  faiuily,  wiMv  kill<<l  in  lst7.  I  liuvc  heard  ihc  fact)*  stattMl  a^aiii 
and  a;^ain.)  Dr.  W  human  ways,  "  I  will  do  it."'  He  eanu'  to  JJoston 
to  SCO  tlu'  (iniccrp  of  the'  IJoard,  and  to  soc  his  friond»  in  Xow-York, 
and  rc'turniMl  in  3Iarch  to  ^lixsonri. 

Iff  took  the  omiurranls  alonu,",  and  Ird  them  across  lljc  ])lains  and 
mountains  to  Vurt  Hall,  a  littK-  licyond  tiio  ]»r('Hcnt  tcrnfnuis  of  the 
I'nio  .  I'aiitic  Haildkoad.  Here  they  cncanipod,  and  Avcrc  met  hy 
Capt.  (lUANr,  MJio  had  fhart^e  undfr  the  H\idson'rt  J»ay  Co'injiany, 
.'"id  ■\vliO  said  \'-  iheni:  "  Where  ari'  yon  ir.)in;.f  V  "  We  arc  j;'oin<j; 
i.u  the  Colniabia  lliver."'  "  J)<)n*l  you  know  that,  yon  eannoi  reach 
it  with  vour  wasxons?  A  <M'cat  manv  have  come  heru  hcfore  t<>  tro 
tlu  ic.  hut  they  liave  sold  their  w  a;4ons  to  nu,  and  liave  gone  down 
with  their  horses  to  the  Culumltia  IJiver.  1  Avill  do  the  >anie  by 
you.''''  They  worn  in  tears,  many  of  them.  Ti^'-y  were  like  j)ersons 
wrecked  in  mid-ocean.  Tliey  had  travelh'd  many  months.  Jf  they 
were  to  g  )  lorwird,  they  could  not  tell  whetlier  tliey  slioidd  reach 
tlic  settlements,  and  it  was  too  l.,(e  to  go  l>ack  at  that  time  of  the 
year.  J)r.  AViirrMAx,  who  hai>|>emHl  to  he  away  at  tlie  time,  found 
them  in  that  state.  He  said  to  them:  "]My  couiitrymen,!  have  led 
von  thus  far  safelv.  If  vou  will  trust  me,  I  will  lead  vou  to  the 
Colund)ia  liiver  with  your  wagons  and  families.''' 

On  consultation,  they  trusted  him,  "^l  he  Doctor  '•vent  forward  and 
j1ut  stakes  down  at  needed  points  !is  guides  for  tliem  to  ibllow,  ami 
they  found  the  hest  way  they  could.  Seiuetimes  tliey  let  thi'ir 
wagons  down  over  precii)ices;  l)ut  iinally  they  got  down  to  the 
region  of  the  Lewis  IJiver,  commonly  called  the  Snake  Kiver.  'J'here 
they  were  met  ]>y  a  com  j)any  of  Indians  from^Mr.  SrAULDiNtrsstiition, 
who  re({uested  his.  Dr.  AViirrNrAN's,  medical  attendance  at  the  North- 
west;  and  he  said  that  the  Indian;  would  take  them  along.  He 
went  and  attended  as  a  uu'ilical  adviser  at  Mr.  SrAUhDixci's,  and  the 
Indians  took  the  comi)any  down,  as  p]x-Governor  I>uunett,  of  Cali- 
fo.'uia,  who  was  one  of  the  company,  said,  Ly  a  better  route  than  the 
Doctor  had  found,  because  he  did  not  know  the  best  routes.  They 
stopped  at  the  Doctors  staiion,  24  miles  from  the  Columbia  Eiver, 
and  there  they  Avere  refreshed.  Doctor  "WnrrArAx,  on  leaving  home 
the  previous  autumn,  ordered  his  employes  to  provide  food  for  them ; 
for  he  knew  that  many  of  them  Avould  be  without  food,  and  would 
need  rest  and  refreshment. 

There  they  refreshed  themselves,  and  changed  their  worn  ^,ut 


1       <?oinc  of  them  wc"' 
f,v  as  they  couUl,  for  bettor  cattle-  j      ^^^^^^^^^  ,^  fl,o         . 
tcilm9,asfnrastncy  over  tlio  *^""™\,,.t  ,,,;Gniis,  wl»le 

,lo«n  the  ri«r,  ""^^  o„ul  he  .aUUk't  Pr  Mol  A^      ^  ^^^^„„^ 

WUlamette  ^  ■*/„,^,„U  Bay  (^"-l^r'^^tiring  them  »«vr«- 
o'--'^'"-'":  ;t*'  "the  hmmgvant,  ^"'^;^l^.  Amer.can 
aftonvanls,tieax».^  Of  coiu'^e,  ontnti  „„,i  „§  Americans 

oucroaU.iftl-y'^-^f^^y:;,  °„  actual  ro.»ess.o„ •  an^  ^^  t-„„     . 

power  heeame  the   tion=^«      ^^^.^  „  provisional  govc  ^_^^. 

do,  they  at  onee  inoro».       ^^^_,^^^  ;,,  f^'er^or  a  gentleman 

appointed  a  ilay  ol  e         ^  ^„ont  of  the  i  j^„^„. 

.;,,„  haa  heen  sen  o«t  a  __^  ^^  ^.^,„  own  c^y,  ^'      ^^^^^  ^ 

the  I".l'-''  ^TetL  cLen  t.iec  a«rmg  ^^^^^'J allowed  to 
:S;:^cfe^^^MrA^— -'.^nderstan.hehas 

But  although  t  .0  i  ^^^^  ^,,„n.     llio  i  ^^^  „„a 

t„ere  were  "S^ne-es  at  ,0^   |^_^^  ^,,^j^„,„  and  I...  Wxu    ^^^^^_^^_^ 

,„  fl„„„y  let  Y'  •  t^ent°°  "»'«  American  e^^n  '  w  e^  ^j^^^^^„„,, 
'-  f "'  "ycIT  o"eof\l«enn.loy6sormjnhe  -  ^  ^„j,,o  .ho 
bytlunn.     \ctnoi.  ,       i    anJ  no  one  oi  ^,  Qgdks, 

r- y  C™;'^"">'.i:rtl,em     But  it  should  I'^J-^  '^\Lanely  and 
„.n,pathi/.ed  with  tl.em  ,^  y,^y  *"°"  "^^  "  1  and  children-. 

Es,   Chief  l''»'"";,f  f  ,  eued  the  eaptivc  won       »        ^_^,^,„„ 
-i.h  great  rro-i;" -Vovemher  7,1847     1-  -      ^^^^,^y  ,„,, 

That  massacre  ^^^  ™         a^eksktuv  ;  ^"' 'f,?„o,,es8ionof  that 
.var,  eonteted  hy  t.o-     ,___^_^,^^„„,„oaanaheiavo»- 

that  thermted  States  „  ^^^^^  ^^^^^^ 

tcrritovy.  .1  „f    various  ctiorts  nttoinntedtlns 

Gentlemen  are  a«- «  ^  ^      President  Jackson  attcmp       ^^^^ 

many  years  to  sc-cureCahfor.^^^^^  made  »  -^"^^a,'    At 
in  1835.    Mr.  i'"'"^'^?'    °  ,o„dic  and  secl.onal  than  "  ^^^^.^^^ 

l,,..e  efthrts  were  rather  spo  ^^.^_^^^^  ^^1'"'- "  .  ,1"„.„ont  was 

*"■■'  ^-"^  '^niVi-e-  coast  a.;<';^--/:o^,:;«c  manner. 
1'°''^'^'^'"^°^;^  explorations,  wh.ehl'S,f;;;,^  and  Commodore 
scut  over  to  make  e  1  ^^^  ^r.  1  >;  ■>">^  officers,  were 

Tl,„  Mexican  wa.  came    ^^    ^^^^^^  ^„,^,„,  States  ^^  ^,^^ 


9 


Trn 


After  the  settlement  of  the  Mexican  war,  and  after  we  had  gained 
actual  military  possession  of  California,  Laving  purchased  it,  although 
we  had  conquered  it ;  liaving  got  it  in  actual  possession  by  treaty  also, 
and  put  our  flag  over  it,  then  it  was,  as  it  woukl  seem,  that   God 
i(7icovered  the  (/old,  hi  184S.     You  know  the  effect  everywhere.     I 
was  on  that  coast  at  the  time,  and  it  had  tlie  same  effect  upon  us. 
It  is  a  most  wonderful  fact,  that  tlie  gold  Avas  uncovered  in  the  very 
sands  and  brooks  near  where  tlio  trappers  and  hunters  liad  carried 
on  their  traffic  ;  and  emigrants  had  even  taken  some  of  those  jieb. 
bios,  and  pounded  them  on  their  wagon  wheels,  and  found  tliera 
malleable,  and  did  not  know  what  they  Avcre.     There  have  Ijcen  two 
or  three  efforts  to  find  the  spot  where  they  found  those  pebbles,  but 
thus  far  in  vain,  although  they  liave  found  similar  places  all  around 
that  region.      The  providential  fact  we  see  now  is,  that  God  saved 
that  coast  for  us,  and  hence  it  was  liidden  fi*om  the  eyes  of  men 
generally,  until  Ave  had  got  actual  possession  not  only  of  Oregon  but 
of  California.     He  then  uncovered  it,  and  seemed  to  say  :  "  It  in  for 
you  Americaiisy    It  Avas  given  to  us  by  the  providence  of  God. 
It  AA'as  one  of  the  pivotal  points  in  our  history,  but  Ave  did  not 
even  then  know  why  it  Avas. 

Society  Avas  upset.  Business  Avas  changed.  IMen  Avent  there  Avith 
fortunes  and  lost  them ;  and  men  Avent  there  Avithout  fortunes,  and 
gained  them  on  that  coast.  You  could  not  by  any  possible  argu- 
ment control  tliem.  They  Avent  from  the  east  and  from  the  Avest, 
from  all  the  States  of  this  Union,  from  every  country  in  Europe, 
from  CA'cry  portion  of  the  Pacific  coast  doAvn  to  Chili,  from  every 
island  of  the  sea,  from  China  and  the  East  Indies.  It  drew  men 
there  Avith  a  most  poAverful  force,  like  a  miglity  magnet  drawing 
evervthinsr  to  itself.  It  chancfcd  tlie  entire  features  of  commerce. 
We  did  not  understand  it.  The  miners  dug  faithfully  in  the  deep 
ravines,  and  our  statistics  show^  that  the  gold  came  in  at  the  rate 
of  about  fifty  millions  per  annum  on  the  average. 

At  last  the  storm  cloud  of  civil  Avar  burst  upon  us.  "VVe  had  to 
liaA^e  armaments,  and  fleets,  and  munitions  of  w\ar,  and  provisions,  and 
all  those  means  Avith  Avhieh  to  carry  on  war  successfully.  We  had 
to  stretcii  our  credit,  and  Ave  must  have  some  backing  for  it.  We 
must  have  some  poAver  that  Avoiild  assure  it.  And  noAV  avc  have 
learned  to  see  that  God  gave  us  those  millions  of  gold,  and  brought 
them  safely  to  tliis  metropolis  of  the  nation,  so  that  the  credit  of  the 
nation  might  be  sustained.  We  had  to  buy  munitions  of  Avar ;  and 
the  miners  upon  that  coast  Avere  God's  servants  in  sending  to  us 


10 


O'-'^*''-       ,      .Ivcn  ua  t\,at  corvst,  not  <»'  5"  ^'   „,'  „„t  only  to  ««- 

0,e  rvcsevv.tUn>  o  <J-  ";\„,„,e  Us  f"*"-;"  ^  .b'.t^ve !-«  ever 
tain  Us  IK'^'  "•"?"'       „,"to  l«v  fo'-  ""  '^^'"  ''     t   -,,71  onert  nation, 

..*--'  'T:r.:  ;"»«•■  .■;■;-;::  ,ss .«-- 

tl.vw  states.    I  """,        „(,t  to  a  ccrtani  e^'"?    ,1  ,^^,j  ^,,^1 

V>sU  to  .ay,  tl.at  -^^ ,  \;,T -..tevost  of  any  vf^^^"^^,    G„a 

,vl,iel.  conrt.tntcs  a  ro'  ,,^„^    „f  ,„o„  1  cl    o  ,^..y„,u 

tas  tln■o^vn  npon  tl>at  ooa^     Voul.ave  H.at  el-a.a^tc.  ^^^_.  ^ 

to  a  large  extent     V.  J^        ^,„„,,,    The  gv-    -        .^,,,,;,i  „,a 
,„ge,-  tev"to.-y, o' ^'';;„„„,  affiliation.    !■«    1-  '    .,,^,     ^..-oees. 
*"-^  •  r"„,  «1     o  onv  .oUtioal  ^y^'-u  av    tl  e  -  .     ^^__^,^^^        ., 
Viennial  contacts  ux     ^       .^eutsave  tusetiu)^  ^.^.^^^^ 

W  .lucMl-e  .nco-^-  ->;,  ^„„e,ean  el.avac^.  ^^^^^  ^.„„. 
*ey  l^eeome  n  ouWe  ^^^^^^^  *'-■>- """';'  i\;'u.,u  to  feel  tl'C 
^vl.atevei-  qna.ta  ot  togetl.or,  a  h1  ">,,!,•,.    Tliat 

^«vsonallnl^>   =  t  o.attl.ci  «       '^'-     .  ,„i-„„„l  gun. 


'  ^  m  o,lant  element,  ttat  tl>ci  «  ^  ^„„j-„„„l  gun 

isavevyimroitai  ,      ,,  „ation.     1"'9  is       .,,„i  „f  i\,c  liolili- 

This  is  an  nnpo.  ta.^  Ue  ^^^^^,^  .^  ,,„  „^,    ,.  t  a,  »,,„,„ 

of  tl>at  people,  ^^-f  "'i:!^!  ,,ave  been  tl.eve  t^ven      i'^"  „„, 

\)cat  there  is  prccistij 


11 


'I! 


went  up  or  down,  and  as  the  thrill  of  joy  or  of  agony  swept  ove 
you,  so  Avc  felt  it.  When  the  3Ionitor  saved  your  sliii)pinir,  onv 
liearts  felt  as  yours  felt,  that  it  was  our  vietory  and  our  joy,  as  it  was 
yours.  AVhcn  Gen.  Gkaxt  and  our  corps  of  nohlc  officers  "  fuught 
it  out  on  this  li^i(>,-'  our  hearts  and  hopes  were  with  them. 

"Wo  have  gained  a  possession  in  other  respects  there.  Education 
and  religion  arc  going  on,  not  jxtri  ^x/.9.s?<  with  business.  1  Avish 
they  were  going  on  with  etpial  i)aee  Avitli  husiness  and  connncree, 
for  wo  have  gained  power  largely  in  coninierce.  American  shij)s 
sweep  the  Facihc  to  a  very  wide  extent.  Foremost  for  many  years 
to  promote  our  national  interest,  as  well  as  their  own,  and  to  give 
prestige  to  our  merchant  nuirine  on  those  seas,  fiave  heen  the  Pacific 
Mail  Stcainshi[)  Comj)any's  lines.  Lately,  the  California,  3rc.\ican 
aii<l  Oregon  lines  liave  done  imu-h  in  this  service.  These  ainl  all 
such  carricis  help  greatly  to  develop  that  Avholc  coast. 

Let  mo  now  speak  to  you  of  the  natural  resources  of  the  Xorth- 
west  Coast.  Let  me  remind  you,  in  the  first  jdace,  that  we  have 
u]>on  the  slope  of  the  Paeiiic  a  territory  of  over  l,-tOO,00()  scpuirc 
miles,  nearly  twice  as  large  as  all  Kuroj)e^  Russia  excepted.  Gtn. 
HAr.r.Kt.K  R'ports  that  he  has  12,7oO  statute  miles  of  sea-coast,  in- 
cluding th(^  islands  under  his  care,  and  including  Alaska.  "  The 
States  and  territories  along  the  coast  alone,"  says  ]\[r.  Ckoxisk,  in  his 
book  on  tiie  Xatural  Wealth  of  California,  "including  Alaska,  com- 
])rise  i\n  area  of  894,229  S(piare  miles,  which  is  larger  than  all  the 
Xew-Kngland,  Middle  and  Western  States,  or  nearly  e<pial  to  France, 
Great  IJritain,  (lermauA",  Prussia  and  Austria  combined.  These 
nations  contain  nearly  one  hundred  and  sixty  millions  of  inhabit- 
ants, and  the  whole  Pacific  slope  ami  territories  have  less  than  a 
million,  Avhile  there  is  no  country  richer  in  natural  wealth  than  a 
large  portion  of  the  Pacific  coast." 

In  respect  to  resources,  we  all  understand  tliat  climate  has  much 
to  do  with  a  ccnmtry,  its  inhabitants  and  resources.  You  have 
heard  manv  isolated  facts  rt'garding  temperature.  Cien.  Stkvkxs, 
lor  instance,  in  the  Xorthwestern  llailway  survey,  said  that  the 
temperature  grew  higher  as  you  went  west.  lie  said,  also,  that 
the  Indians  kept  their  horses  above  49°  X.  latitude  through  the  en- 
tire year;  and  he  also  said  there  was  less  snow  on  the  mountains 
north  of  45 "  than  south  of  42"".  You  have  heard  such  statements 
made  repeatedly.  Let  me  call  your  attention,  not  so  much  to  the 
isolated  facts,  as  to  the  law,  which  governs  all  those  facts. 

On  looking  at  the  map,  you  will  see  that  the  Pacific  Ocean  is  about 


I 


\^  (looTCCS  of  ^aU- 
„s,  >.ot  ulNvay    ^'^'''        cart!.,  »»iV.ytl'«  "•'',,„ ^,„ao^in'l' 
,,;  tl.c  vovolut.on  »' ^^°  .;,o,a;cd^vatc.r.    ^»^''';.„.a,  tl,c  ton-id 

,.onc  and  «°«»"\  „,"  TaUc  tl.at  g-oat »"«  "'  '  ;  „l,o»  it 
.ay  towa,;d.^tl,e  ,^- ^^  ^^  latUu^o,  -  ^f  „;',,„  •„,  ,„a  a  con- 
audcovenng  -l  "  =  a  constant  cm. onl  ,  •„„  ,„„,-c  .-ai-.d  n 
eontmually,  and  yo«j^  j„„,,  cnv.-ont, '«  >  =  ^^^^^  ,,.0 

-""""■"Mr    .0     volntion  of  t>-  ?-;//, „a,  jnst  as  tl.c 
Us  sta.t...g  tlantl  ,j  „,  ^  ''°"''"\  '   „„tine>.t  as  a  so..tl.- 

i„.,.o..t  f.-o.n  t.o  ^"-U,.^       ^^^^  ,^    ^  ^n  ^.  ^^^  „e 

l,„vUo,.  go...S  -^'       ,;.„  ^,„  ,amo  tlung  on  0^^  ,  „„,  ,,„,t,o.. 

back  agam,  -    .°  V„a  Japa,.,  vassn.g  ""  ')  ^^ I  .on^vav.nc■.-va.cv 
ot  it  i.ass...S  *'r', portion  st.iV..,g  n.'^  ^.,,„„,,  ,,acV  to  tl.c 

e-l-ato'--    l^'Tnodovatcs  tl'^ -'^^"■™    "J^,,,  ,nnst  somevvl.oro 
also,  tl..s  cuvie.  t  ot  ^^       j,,,,,  ,,  c  l.a%  ^^^.^^,^  j,,,^^. 

of  ..ton..ta.''^-     ' '"':  „,,.x  of  l-owcv  Cal.fo.n.a,  ^^^^  ^,,„ 

ng  ..P  a'o"S;!- r^r      :.  l,l..fl-...g..-':'"!  ;;n     Ua     T'^a^  '«  ".- 

lino  oxtonOi.i,,    i  ^,_^  ,^^^.(,st  stiatu 

fi«tV.,.c,and      c.         ^^  ^^._^  ^^^^-j  ,„„,,  _^  ^^^^  ^ 

tain8,alUbcsamcran„, 


I 


13 

distant  from  it,  from  Mexico  to  Alaska.  These  are  about  7,000  foot 
high  in  California ;  in  Oregon,  ahout  4,500  feet ;  and  as  you  go 
north,  they  aie  still  lower.  Out  of  them  spring  mountains  12,000 
to  15,000  feet  high,  and  always  covered  with  snow.  This  second 
breastwork  of  mountains  of  course  catches  the  next  stratum  of  this 
vapor,  and  the  water  is  deposited  as  rain  or  as  snow.  I  found  on 
careful  measurement  that  the  rain  fall  at  Oregon  City,  for  the  years 
1849,  1850  and  1851,  averaged  from  37  to  GO  inches  per  annum. 
Hence  you  liave,  upon  the  mountains  over  Avhich  the  Pacific  Central 
llail-ltoad  passes,  hirge  deposits  of  rain  and  snow.  As  that  region 
is  so  liigh  it  catclies  Large  quantities.  They  must  liave  sheds  for 
forty  miles,  as  reported,  upon  that  rail-road,  to  protect  it  in  win- 
ter. This  is  one  of  the  experiments  -which  they  are  now  trying. 
As  you  go  further  north  the  mountains  are  5,000,  4,000  and  3,000 
feet  high,  catching  less  moisture  as  you  pass  towards  the  northeast. 

About  GOO  or  800  miles  from  the  ocean  you  have  the  chain  of  the 
Rocky  ]\[ountains,  rising  to  a  height  of  about  V,000  or  8,000  feet, 
Svith  many  depressions,  Avhich  are  much  lower.  These  mountains 
will  catch  the  moisture  M'hich  has  gone  over  the  Nevadas,  and  de- 
posit it  in  the  foi'm  of  rain  or  snow.  In  the  winter  this  vapor  of 
course  will  strike  the  earth  at  a  lower  latitude  than  in  the  summer; 
for  as  the  earth  turns  northward,  so  to  speak,  in  the  Avinter,  it  must 
strike  further  south.  The  first  range  takes  a  large  part  of  the  moistui'c ; 
the  second  range  takes  more,  and  the  two  leave  comparatively  little 
for  the  1  tocky  Mountains ;  Avhile  the  lower  regions  of  country,  east  of 
the  Xevadas,  Avill  be  a  rainless  desert,  like  the  peninsula  of  Cali- 
fornia. 

Here  Ave  have  the  basis  of  the  great  resources  of  the  Northwest. 
The  moisture  and  the  Avarm  air  from  the  south  give  us  a  niild  tem- 
perature, so  that  I  luiA^e  had  in  my  garden  grass  in  midwinter;  and 
Ave  had,  Avintcr  before  last,  an  inch  only  of  ice,  and  last  Avinter  only 
six  or  eight  inches,  and  I  am  at  45'^  35'.  Last  Avinter  aa'c  had  from 
four  to  six  inches  of  snow,  and  some  Avinters  avc  have  scarcely  any. 
You  find  that  the  isothermal  line  of  your  OAvn  city  passes  so  far  north 
on  the  western  coast  as  to  reach  above  49°  up  tOAA'ards  Alaska.  You 
find  on  our  coast  a  climate  like  the  European  climate,  only  that  it 
soeuis  to  be  ui)on  a  scale  made  peculiar  by  the  conformation  of  the 
mountains.  The  clinuite  on  the  coast  is  very  salubrious  in  sum- 
mer, mild  and  humid  in  Avinter,  and  also  healthy.  That  of  the 
interior  is  Avarni  in  summer,  dry  and  bracing  in  Avinter,  and  ahvays 
'healthy.      The   best   lumber  and   the   grandest   forests   upon   the 


14 

„,      Tlu^  moisture  gives    _ 
♦ho  Tacific  coast,     a'  ,     ...,,  or  twelve 

American  conf-nt -c-r-'^^^  fc^t  l.-.^'V-t^r  o     C^^V,fov.ua 
t  the  ,.-t  tree,  -'J  f  j^^sts  extend  at  .M«  ^^  __  ^,„  ,,„,.,.  ot 

IffectcUu  tl'e '*»«"' ^VJ^^,..  have  tl.c  ""''f  ,"°ii,„,„  yo»  t.m> 
„eea«.e  the  .nount^am  ^^  ^^^.^,^^,     j  500  o.  ^.___^^,^.    i,«t 

,„.y  little  t.™!"--';'^;  6„a  it  vevy  >^*"  W,*" '„  fi„a  »ove  timV,ev, 
„„„u  the  vail-toad,  they  ^^^       „ovt  >  >ou  ^^.^„,  i,,,m. 

X  fi"-l  '^  g--'"'  '"'      'ave  over  ami  tl,e  ^.1°"''; X,'V,UUoriUa  o. 

lenee  It  «  ^^^X^„  it  i.  still  ''^■«- ,'  ,  r^  ^u.l-^  -'"  '; 
^;,va.la,am^m^^a^l'    =       ^^^^j^,.^_  y„„  V  ^t  of  tV'.  CaseaAe,  are 

timWr  gives  gv,^s     ■«    ,  ^^^  ^^,,,uo^..     ^    t  <-     ^^  ^^^^^^^,  ,.„„    „ 
there  ami  .emlmg  t  >  '  ..,^.,,1,.^,  ami  tt      -  ^,^y^.M 

the  same  Ingl' S  >':';"' ^,,  ^  cl»>»"»  ''*'''''    that  tl«  I"^^'""' 
.'vion.     nenee  >t  <  ,  ""^  ,,A  to  «f  .   ,  t         ^^^  ^^^^,  ^„,„. 

o't  state,  !>«'.-  '-;^;^Vwmg  tl>e  wl.olo  w-Me    ■.  J^^  ,„,^  ,„,t  they 

can  Ueev  .l-.r    '»-«  'i„teWgeut  ^^^-^f^^^^  he  Caseade  range 

nrern,,aslngl>a»*»;  ^^^.^  ^"^'''^'".ftor  winter,  saymg 

'■•■'?  r''T::Uy  M--ins,  ■■ereatemy.J--  ^  ^„,„,„.,  .n.l  clr-e^ 

i  t„erc  is  tl.e  -[ ;:^^\;:„-a,ly  ^vlt.  snow  ^,„„  „„, 

„,.ass  in  «lnt«-"°;  °  ,  „ives  ns  the  cereals  ,•  ^,,^,^  ,„„,t. 

'  What  gives  "s  g'»^'^=        eoMlnent  Las  -^O"^        ,  „-„,s  us  the 

t'-'  the  i^est  -.-  ;^,,,„„  gives  us  S--  '^'t.l   forth  eereals 
It  is  the  very  elnnate  vv  ,,,„,„s  *°     ,^„^,„„  .,nu,un  s-. 

eereals,  "-1.  f  >^  "  .Uuet  of  goUl,  ^verr  u     >    ^^^^^^     ,^,„„t,on 

,„nost  ---l-\;°^    ,/tl>e  same.    '"'^  J-^f '«  '  nrilV.ons  ofV.-'- 
and  Oregon  is  don.  estnnated,  hve  ,8„o,tl>efe» 

Z  Oregon  Lave  •''"'*«':  "'ion  of  lumber  is  no 'es'..;         ^_  ^^^^^^,, 
\-     h^it  ■  and  the  produeUoir  ^^^^^.,_  „,  h.  .  1  ^^ 

ol  wheat,  •       .  .,,,,n,.hood  ot  Inge'' =     .  „,„,v,niT  snars,  1""-^' 
,„i,l,  iu  tUe  ""Sl  !>»  f     i;„.„,  of  feet,  melml    ,  ^.^,.„.  the 

s»nt  out  four  imm-aj      ^^  ^^^  B"1'P0«;  *''*^v,ntatie  law  g-es 
.tnd  sawed  UimV.,  an  ^^„,„  g,i.  t  ^,^^^„  ,„.„. 

export  will  fall  ^«  "^  ^  ^a  fruits,  and  m  ^u    -.^  ^^_^^^  .  ,^„,,„, 
y-  ^""'"r^y  aW»*-    '^''°  'Cd   n  ^rantlty  and  .uaUty. 


16 

Now,  a  word  with  regard  to  the  snows  of  tlio  Xorth.  Gontlonipn 
have  raised  the  question,  whether  there  is  not  very  niucli  more  snow 
in  tlie  Oregon  than  in  tlie  California  mountains  ?  Tlie  very  nature  of 
that  immense  southern  boundary  of  mountains,  7,000  fe-et  higli,  will  ' 
cause  a  deposit  of  moisture  from  tho  air  flowing  northeastward  froni 
the  Pacific,  in  tho  form  of  rain  or  of  snow,  and  therefore  it  is  that 
they  have  snow  to  a  great  depth,  so  that  the  emigrants  have  some- 
times travelled  in  winter  among  the  branches  of  the  trees  in  the 
deep  ravines,  and  have  heon  astonished  at  the  amount  of  snow. 
These  mountains  have  caused  the  deposit  of  so  much  of  the  moisture 
of  the  air  ])assing  over  them,  that  after  it  has  passed  over  them  there 
is  less  moisture,  and  therefore  less  snow  to  fall,  as  Governor  Stkvkns 
correctly  stated.  The  residt  will  be,  that  the  Northern  llail-Koad 
will  not  bo  impeded  by  snow  to  an  extent  any  thing  like  that  of  the 
Central  Pacific  IJoad,  As  the  northern  barriers  of  tl»e  Coast  and 
Cascade  ranges  are  lower,  the  deposits  of  vapor  are  distributed  over 
a  wider  area,  and  thus  are  more  e(iualized. 

One  more  point,  to  Avhich  I  wish  to  call  your  attention,  and 
that  is,  the  development  of  that  country  in  relation  to  commerce. 
This  has  gone  on  Avith  wonderful  rapidity.  The  rail-roads  them- 
selves, that  have  been  projected  towards  our  coast,  especially  the 
Union  and  Central  Pacific,  on  which  the  builders  display  so  much 
wisdom  and  energy,  for  Avhich  grants  of  land  have  been  pro- 
posed, seem  to  me  not  at  all  to  conflict  with  each  other.  All 
of  them  are  necessary  to  develop  such  an  immense  region  of  coun- 
try. The  Union  and  Central  Pacific  will  develop  regions  which 
the  Xorthern  or  Houthern  Pacific  cannot  affect.  In  like  manner 
they  will  each  open  to  settlement  and  business  sections  indepen- 
dent of  each  other.  Whatever  remarks,  therefore,  I  have  made, 
are  not  to  be  taken  as  invidious  toward  any  particular  line  of  rail- 
road. Every  one  is  important.  We  have  no  need  to  assume  that 
there  are  conflicting  interests  between  them;  for  all  will  have  a 
local  business  by  developing  the  country  along  its  own  route,  and 
all  M'ill  thus  do  well.  But  it  is  proper  to  speak  particularly  of  the 
two  (jnind  lines,  w/tich  noio  rush  towards  each  other,  and  approach 
con)j)letton,  the  Zliion  Pacific  and  Central  Pacific  Pail-Jioads. 
T/iese  two  2)ioneers,  whicfi  sj)an  the  continent  and  loiite  t/ie  oceans, 
jyrotnisinf/  to  put  the  conunerce  of  Asia,  America  and  Europe  upon 
a  new  course,  and  to  develo])  it  into  grander  proportions,  deserve  a 
natio)ih praise  as  well  as  a  nation\H  aid.  Already  every  section  of 
our  country  feels  the  stimulus-  of  this  grand  and  united  Atlantic 


1     cr  the  route,  and  cspe- 

The  vesu\t  mu  '  ^ 'Lw  °  vcatc-  a."""'"'  "'  \^,a  xv.aW.y  States, 
mountains  ami  of  vastly  ,         ^_^^^  l'ol'"'»»\'"r;  '  „e  m  .-cn-^-'  *" 

T„oy  «m  give  -  «;;-^:a :  „,  „„«  s-vt  t « » ">•"- ""  r 

foR-.gu  <=■>"""';"'  V  f...-  tl.-.s  voason.     H  i  ^^,^^,^j.,  ,„,,st, 

a\rt,mco  to  «'"'»;"!  „cc  from  ^'''"•^"'■^.'    '    Vu.ct's  S«".-l  I'! 

ti»s "">'.'i^-"  X"  »«»  '""'■"'.  ""  .ally  0^^  ""''»^-   '''■"'■ 

to  tl.c  I'aoihc,  B  *""^       ^     ,«v  is  v'-o^>'i'''5'  ji,is  state" 

Svla,  tlte  a;s;;'- :r  ;  „o  e,  e**^  ^rr  U.:g-toltclo 
r,Vvl.ieU  can  Je  v^.t^^  ^  L.^y  ^  ^^  f:'*'-"  ™  V^--  »>""^-,'? 
front  tlte  lino  o   I  a.u  ^^  W^f-'^;";-"  on  that  front  CaU- 

Callfovni^t.  O'Tf  "'l    '„  tl  at  coast.    It  « '"/;,,,„  rugot's  Homul 

fornia  tl,o  ^"^"f^^r^  the  L'ovthev"  r"-I.  :'^ 
country  -,  ""^^  '''?'■-";,  „,,,ev.  ,  „„,e„t  ftmn  the  Tae.fic 

raelfie  at  that  l-    ' '  ,  ^^i,  u,at  the  ?■-*,    '  f  ,nnth  tl-eve,  and 
The  fact,  as  1  !'•  ^"^        ^,^,„,i,„.  Islan.ls  u-  c.^  ._^^^,.^,^^  ,„ 

„„sscs  north  thvongh    he  ^^_^^^  ,,      „  „„c  , 

'gives  valnc  to  that     hol^  =  ^^^^^^^^  1>-  f^'^.^e  ..ccUea  ahove, 
favo.-  o'  tl"'*  Tl  si  of  theaOvantages  hatl  m         ^^     ,^^,,^yy 
Alaska  has  also  so,  c  ^^^,^  f,„,  eo pl.c  ^       ^  ^^^  ,^y  ^^ 

for  -  '-«;'"!'  "interest  vUl  V>e  S'-^'/ :',,„„  current  of 
„oU.«l»to*l"^  ''cation  ,vUh  AlasUa.  ^'^^^^,t  „acls  tvarmth 
^ore  ready  ">'"""  J  X,.  warmtlUo  our  o.ncms^^^  ^^^^ 

,,„chIlntvespoU     ;  j-  .,^,,^^,.^  .,   the   Sr.^t   -  ^^^  ^_^^^ 
to  that  whole  icm  ,t,  cN^eeirt  the  C"  j.,,iaos,the 

largest,  rerha,.s,  on  tha         ^^_^^^^^,,^^^  °''™,  ^  --ny  years.  If  " 
river  ntust  drain  a  '•'  =        ^  j.,.„,„  that  region  to.  ^^,,. 

,;,.»  of  peltries  gatl'cii"         m-i.c  coil,  salmon  ami  ,, 

6iiv>lilies  01  1  country.   H'"        '„«t.mt  source  ot  Miavm- 

cate  the  value  of  ti.e  ^^  ^,^  ^  c"""*'"  '  , ;,  ,vorth,  u.  my 

1  have  detainca  j^ 


17 

ilicato  sonic  of  tho  views  with   respect  to  our  Western  and  North- 
western coast,  which  I  eonsiih-r  worthy  of  n  our  consideration. 

I  thank  you  for  the  kind  invitation  whieli  vou  liave  jxiveu  me.  anil 
for  your  courtesy  in  listenini;-   so   long-  to  my    remarks.     [   l)ave* 
called  your  attention  to  a  largo  section  of  our  vast  national  domain, 
too  Ijriefly  and  too  cursorily  to  <lo  it  justice.     ]''or  there  are  the 
germs  of  a  new  empife,  r.nd  the  homes  of  future  millions. 

"  Westward  the  star  of  Empu'o  takes  its  way." 

On  conclusion  of  the  Address,  the  following  resolution  was 
otfered hy  Mr.  FiiKDEiiroK  A.  Co>Mvr.iXG,  and  unanimously  adopted: 

Resoli^ed,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Chamber  be  presented  to  Dr. 
Atkinson*  for  the  full  and  instructive  address  delivered  before  them 
to-day,  and  that  lie  be  requested  to  furnish  a  copy  of  the  same  to 
the  Chamber  for  publication. 


Note. — At  the  close  of  the  address,  A.  A.  Low,  Esq.,  inquired 
whether  the  government  had  recognised  the  great  deeds  of  Dr. 
WiiiT.MAK  by  any  suitable  memorial  ?  The  ansAver  was,  No.  Dr. 
WiiiT.ArAN  and  wife  sleep  in  a  little  mound  at  "Waiilatpu,  near  the 
spot  on  which  they  were  massacred,  Avith  no  suitable  monument  as 
yet  to  mark  their  graves. 

But  a  surviving  fellow  missionary,  Rev.  C.  Eells,  of  Walla 
Walla,  W.  T.,  Avitii  a  few  other  gentlemen,  have  established  Whit- 
man Seminary  near  by,  and  they  are  striving  to  make  it  a  living 
and  a  fruitful  monument  of  the  spirit  and  jDurposes  of  this  noble 
missionary  in  the  mental  and  moral  culture  of  the  children  and 
youth  of  that  region  of  rich  valleys,  plains  and  mountains. 

I  am  authorized  to  say,  that  liev.  Mr.  Eells  and  the  other  trus- 
tees will  gratefully  receive  and  faithfully  appropriate  any  funds 
which  either  individuals,  societies,  or  the  government  may  wish  to 
give  "  Whitman  Seminary,"  to  promote  its  growth  and  usefulness. 
It  ought  to  become  W^hitnian  College,  and  thus  bo  the  nursery  of 
noble  principles  and  noble  characters,  the  mental  and  moral  light- 
house for  all  that  region  in  all  future  generations. 

Hon.  W-u.  E.  Dodge,  19  Cliff  Street,  or  Rev.  Tiieron  Baldwix, 
D.  D.,  Secretary  of  the  College  Society,  42  Bible  House,  is  willing 
to  receive  and  transmit  any  donations  to  that  Seminary. 

G.  H.  Atkinson. 


/I 


